On Saturday, June 28, attendees of the Hyatt Squeezers Open Jam were extremely surprised when Trombone Shorty joined the party. The open jam is a recurring featured after party of the Rochester International Jazz Festival but this year it was elevated to a whole new level, experiencing record breaking participants and guest appearances from headliners. It gave an intimate and one of a kind experience to everyone who attended.

Undoubtedly the party doesn’t stop after the headliner shows, it just moves to The Street Craft Kitchen & Bar inside the Hyatt Rochester Regency. 150 folks arrived in a given evening, dressed in their Sunday best. The crowd filled the entire venue and spilled into the lobby, buzzing from a night of culture and excitement. People from all walks of life came to spectate, sign up to play and cheer, but what makes this event special is the opportunity to meet your favorite musician or play alongside them – something that is not offered anywhere else in the Rochester area.

For over twenty years, this free event has been singularly championed by Eastman School of Music Jazz Guitar Professor Bob Sneider and house band the Bob Sneider Trio. Starting this year, Bob organized the Sunday through Thursday open jams from 10:30 p.m. till all hours of the night featuring straight ahead jazz. Whereas, Fridays and Saturdays were organized by a new addition Ryan Johnson and house band Escape Terrain which featured electrified jazz like soul, funk, and gospel fusions.

When asked about his contribution to the open jam, Ryan Johnson emphasized the importance of shaping the open jam to be as inclusive as possible by bridging the community together. This has been done by inviting local music students and professional artists alike to play together. Merging folks from all walks of life in an accepting atmosphere. Ryan stated, “We wanted to make sure everybody feels like they have something they can grind on musically. Asking ourselves, how can we make it so that everyone feels heard, accepted and motivated?”

Ryan is an extremely passionate local performer, composer, producer, audio engineer, and educator. He is an extensively educated musician with five degrees from colleges all over the U.S. and is currently working on his Doctorate in music education with a focus on curriculum writing and social justice. When he is not busy with education he pours himself into his bands (Escape Terrain and Berhrcat) and endorsements (D’Angelico Guitars and Curt Mangan Strings).